News brief · Residency
Qatar: Golden Visa extended to skilled professionals
Qatar is extending its long-term residence permit to skilled professionals, after opening it through property ownership. For an expat, the real issue lies elsewhere: in the tax residence certificate, which the permit does not replace.
By Editorial team · on April 14, 2026
What Qatar is opening
Residence in Qatar has traditionally relied on employer sponsorship. The country has opened independent routes, the main one being based on property ownership.
The permit granted to owners and usufructuaries requires the value of the property, or of its usufruct, to be no less than QAR 730,0001, or about about $200,0002.
A second tier, at a higher threshold, opens a permanent residence status with extended rights. The scheme therefore distinguishes two levels depending on the amount invested.
The extension to skilled professionals adds a route based on skills rather than capital, similar to the practice of the Emirates and Hong Kong.
We publish neither the qualification criteria used, nor the required salary thresholds, nor the duration of the permit granted through this route: they do not appear in the official sources we have been able to verify. They must be established with the Qatari authorities.
Nor do we publish the amount of the second property tier or the list of areas where foreign ownership is permitted: these elements do not appear in our verified extracts either.
The issue that remains unresolved
Qatar levies no personal income tax. Earned income is received net, which is the main financial argument of expatriation contracts.
The tax law nevertheless defines residence: a person is resident if they have a permanent residence in the state, or stay there for more than 183 days3 over a twelve-month period.
The purpose of this definition is not to create a tax: it is used to issue tax residence certificates, the document needed to apply a tax treaty.
This is the point that Gulf expats most often discover too late. A residence permit, even a long-term one, is not a certificate, and without it the tax treaty with France remains a dead letter.
As long as the household or the centre of economic interests remains in France, Article 4 B of the French General Tax Code continues to apply, and broadening the residence routes changes nothing.
Qatar's tax framework
Interest and bank income received by individuals not carrying on business in Qatar is exempt, at a rate of 0%4.
Corporate tax is set at 10%5 of taxable income, applicable to all activities. A global minimum tax has also been introduced for groups within its scope.
The country does not yet apply value added tax: its rate remains 0%6, whereas Bahrain has applied 10%7 since 1 January 2022. This exception is presented as temporary.
Finally, the property market open to foreigners is more restricted than Dubai's, concentrated on a few developments, which makes its liquidity dependent on a small pool of buyers tied to the expat job market.
What to do
- Choose the route: employer sponsorship, property investment or professional qualification.
- Obtain the permit and then the Qatari ID card, which is required to open a bank account.
- Take out the health insurance required for the residence permit.
- Apply for the tax residence certificate as soon as the conditions are met: it is what allows the tax treaty to be invoked.
- Document the departure from France — household, centre of economic interests — because that is where the essential issues are decided.
Finally, Qatar is not a cheap destination. Housing, international schooling and health insurance are three high costs, with no public alternative for foreigners. A contract covering housing and schooling changes the equation entirely; a self-employed person who bears these costs sees the net advantage shrink considerably.
Please note
Sources and verification dates
- 1.
Qatar: minimum value of the property or its usufruct granting a residence permit : QAR 730,000
« Article (7) […] 2. Value of the real estate or its usufruct shall not be less than (730,000) seven hundred and thirty thousand Riyals — Decision of the Council of Ministers No. (28) of 2020. Montant légal en riyals (QAR 730 000 ≈ 200 500 USD). »
almeezan.qaVerified on Nov 2, 2026Verified source
- 2.
Qatar: approximate equivalent of the real estate threshold granting residency : $200,000
« Article (7) — Granting of the residency permit to the owners and users of the real estate shall be in accordance with the provisions of Law No. (21) of 2015 referred to, and according to the following: 1. Period of residency in the State shall not be less than ninety days per year, whether continuously or intermittently. 2. Value of the real estate or its usufruct shall not be less than (730,000) seven hundred and thirty thousand Riyals, and if the value of the real estate or its usufruct is (3,650,000) three million, six hundred and fifty thousand Riyals or more the owner of the real estate or its user shall get the privileges prescribed for holders of the permanent residency card in healthcare, education and investment. — Decision of the Council of Ministers No. (28) of 2020 (Al Meezan, portail juridique du Qatar). QAR 730 000 = 200 549 USD à la parité fixe 3,64. »
almeezan.qaVerified on Nov 2, 2026Verified source
- 3.
Qatar: presence over twelve months establishing residency within the meaning of the tax law : 183 days
« Resident: 1- A natural person who has one of the following conditions: (a) If he has a permanent residence in the State. (b) If he has resided in the State for a period exceeding one hundred and eighty-three consecutive or intermittent days within twelve (12) months. (c) If he has vital interests in the State. — Law No. (24) of 2018 Promulgating the Income Tax Law, article 1 (définitions). »
gta.gov.qaVerified on Nov 2, 2026Verified source
- 4.
Qatar: taxation of interest and bank income of individuals without local business activity : 0%
« […] the following income shall be exempt from tax: 1- Interest and bank returns due to natural persons who do not engage in taxable activity in the State, whether they are residents or non-residents. […] 3- Capital gains arising from the disposition of real estate or securities by natural persons, provided that the real estate or securities disposed of do not belong to the assets of a taxable activity. — Law No. (24) of 2018 Promulgating the Income Tax Law, article 4 (exemptions). Les plus-values réalisées dans le cadre d'une activité imposable restent soumises à l'impôt de 10 %. »
gta.gov.qaVerified on Nov 2, 2026Verified source
- 5.
Qatar: tax rate on the taxable income of companies : 10%
« Article 9 The tax rate shall be ten percent (10%) of the taxpayer's taxable income during the tax year. »
gta.gov.qaVerified on Nov 2, 2026Verified source
- 6.
Qatar: value added tax rate : 0%
« Taxes in Qatar — Global Minimum Tax ; Income Tax (« 10% on taxable income, applicable across all activities ») ; Capital Gains Tax ; Withholding Tax ; Excise Tax. — General Tax Authority, page « Taxes in Qatar » : aucune taxe sur la valeur ajoutée n'y figure ; la TVA prévue par l'accord-cadre du CCG n'a pas été mise en œuvre au Qatar. »
gta.gov.qaVerified on Nov 2, 2026Verified source
- 7.
Bahrain: standard rate of value added tax : 10%
« A standard rate of 10% Value Added Tax (VAT) has been applied in the Kingdom of Bahrain from 1 January 2022. »
bahrain.bhVerified on Nov 2, 2026Verified source